The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 45: Oct/Nov 2019 | Page 14

GOING GREEN
HOW GREEN IS YOUR
BUSINESS?
By Fiona Scott
Do you ever consider the environmental
impact of your business, however large or
small your company may be?
Do you think about the impact of your
premises, your people, your energy use, your
travel needs, you?
Futurists are suggesting companies with
a strong social purpose and ethics will thrive
in the future and being ‘green’ or ‘eco’ aware
is often listed as an ethic which will attract
future employees and consumers.
Just take a look at the writings, talks and
videos of Gerd Leonhard to name just one
commentator on the future (one of his films
is here: https://youtu.be/ystdF6jN7hc )
Evidence around climate change and
our impact on our planet have been heavily
documented in the media this year, with the
activity of movements such as Extinction
Rebellion gaining global recognition. There’s
a lot of discussion about ethical fashion and
the People & Planet University League Table
for 2019 was recently published and it may
surprise you which university topped the
table. Was it a Russell Group name? No.
It was just down the road at the University
of Gloucestershire (in Cheltenham) which
is the top of the tree (excuse the pun) for all
universities for its green practices judged
against 13 separate criteria.
What about business though? The
Recycling Technologies
government is hoping for maximum visibility
this year during Green GB (and NI) Week
between Monday 4th November and Friday
8th November. The theme for the week is
‘clean growth’ and there will be a range of
national events bringing together business,
academia, government and ‘civil society’ to
explore ways to achieve clean growth.
Green issues are important to many
Wiltshire businesses too, here are just a few
who have built the environment into their
business offering.
NSBRC
Another Swindon business which is very active
around the ‘green’ message is the Swindon-
based National Self Build & Renovation
Centre, based at junction 16 of the M4. On
Saturday 9th November, the team will be
holding an eco-workshop around heating and
energy to help people be more energy efficient
within their own homes.
Recycling Technologies RT7000 plastics recycling machine
One company planning to become very visible during
the week is Swindon’s Recycling Technologies based
on the South Marston industrial estate.
This company is one which is at the forefront
of innovation when it comes to recycling.
Founder Adrian Griffiths and his team
have developed a machine, the RT7000,
which can chemically process plastics which
would otherwise go to landfill or for burning,
into a crude oil type substance known as
Plaxx. This can then be used for making
other products. It can recycle hard to deal
with plastics such as film, food bags and
crisp packets.
Sophie Gilham, head of sustainability
& environment, said, “We are thrilled UK
technology and Swindon are leading the way
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www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk
in creating a more sustainable pathway for
plastics. As a contributor to a clean-tech
future, we look forward to supporting Green
GB Week in November to engage our already
passionate employees, to benchmark our
internal resource management and resource
usage, and set goals that we seek to achieve
in the future.”
Recycling Technologies is preparing to
build its first commercial RT7000 which will
be installed in Perthshire, Scotland next
year. It’s hoped this will be the first of many
RT7000s operational around the UK and
globally.
At the moment, according to the latest
available figures, 28 per cent of all energy
use comes from domestic consumption
yet only 12 per cent of that use comes from
renewable sources.
Harvey Fremlin, MD, said, “The National
Grid has recently confirmed that between
January and June this year, the UK, for the
first time since the Industrial Revolution,
obtained more power from clean zero-
carbon sources than from fossil fuels.
“We believe self-builders are leading the
way on this. Typically they will use more
insulation and install higher performing
heating systems.”
The 9th November workshop is free to
attend (though attendees must register) and
will involve experts talking about eco-friendly
products and services including heat pumps,
ventilation, solar and underfloor heating.
To find out more about the workshop and to
book on visit:
www.nsbrc.co.uk/eco-workshops